Ohio bill would give parents credit-card security protection for their children

By Marc Kovac

news@vindy.com

COLUMBUS

The Ohio House has signed off on legislation that would enable parents to block attempts to open credit accounts in the names of their minor children.

Rep. Ron Maag, R-Lebanon, said the proposed law changes would help protect minors from identity theft.

HB 317 passed last week on a vote of 98-0 and now heads to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

Adults already are allowed to freeze their own credit, blocking fraudulent attempts to open new accounts in their names, but they cannot do the same for their minor children.

Maag recounted the story of a constituent whose 11-year-old daughter was the victim of identity theft, with credit cards and loans taken in her name.

He also cited a national report finding that minors, 18 and younger, in one in 40 households in the United States have had their identities stolen.

HB 317 would allow parents or guardians to place security freezes on the credit reports of minors. Requests for freezes would have to be made in writing, with proof that applicants have authority to act on minors’ behalf.

More than 20 other states have adopted comparable laws, Maag said.

Rep. Anthony DeVitis, R-Green, said one of his children was the victim of identity theft.

“My daughter is 24 years old now, but this occurred when she was 4 years old,” he said. “We went through the whole process with the FBI and whatnot and trying to get it all straightened out with the creditors.

“This is a major problem for anybody with their children, because they’re just as vulnerable as you are and we don’t even know it,” DeVitis said.